Surname Jurgelait - Meaning and Origin
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Jurgelait: What does the surname Jurgelait mean?
The last name Jurgelait is of Lithuanian origin, meaning ‘eager’ or ‘hungry’. It is derived from the Lithuanian word ‘jurgelé’, which is an adjective that is used to describe someone who is eager or passionate in achieving something. Over the centuries, Jurgelait has become the world over a widely used surname.
The name Jurgelait is a testament to the spirit of determination and perseverance that its original bearer must have exhibited. It is believed that Jurgelait is most likely the surname of a family who once resided in a rural region of Lithuania, that were known to put considerable effort into achieving their goals.
It may be possible that the name first emerged in Lithuania centuries ago, when members of this family held a certain amount of social, economic or military prominence. Throughout the centuries, individuals who bore the name of Jurgelait have become renowned in their respective fields, ranging from athletes, academics, politicians, businessmen and military figures.
In modern times, Jurgelait has become an interesting last name for many new families who originates from Lithuania, offering a unique take on the often-typical surnames of today. Those who bear the surname Jurgelait are a fitting reminder of the fact that even in a rapidly changing world, some values and traditional roots still remain.
Order DNA origin analysisJurgelait: Where does the name Jurgelait come from?
The last name Jurgelait is most commonly found in Germany, Estonia, the Czech Republic and other parts of Central and Eastern Europe. It is a German-language surname, derived from the given name Jürgen, meaning “farmer” or “countryman.”
In Germany, Jurgelait is an extremely common surname, especially in the south. It is often seen in German census records dating back to the mid-19th century. In Estonia, the name is encountered much less frequently but still has a certain presence in some areas. According to the website rahvastik.ee, in 1993, 12 people of Jurgelait surname were registered in Tallinn city and county.
The Czech Republic also has an observable presence of the surname. Czech records from the mid-19th century show that Jurgelait was not an uncommon name. Today, people of this surname are mainly residing in larger cities such as Prague and Brno.
In terms of immigration, people of Jurgelait last name can be found in the United States, Canada and other countries of the world. In the United States, there are about 300 individuals with the surname registered. Many of them have come from German-speaking countries, as noted by the 1940 US Federal Census.
Overall, Jurgelait is a fairly common surname in Central and Eastern Europe, and is present in immigrant communities in other countries around the world. It is a name steeped in history, and those of Jurgelait family carry a great sense of pride and heritage.
Variations of the surname Jurgelait
The surname Jurgelait is of Lithuanian origin and is spelled variously as Jurgelaite, Jurgelaits, Jurgelates, Jurgélaitis, Jurgelaitis, Jurgelaitiene, Yurgelaitis, Jurgelaite, Yurgelaitiene, and Yurgelait.
The name can also take on surname variants, the most common being Jurgelaitis. This version can be further broken down to variants Jurgelait or Yurgelait, and the feminine variants Jurgelaite or Yurgelaite. All of these versions are derived from the surname Jurgelait.
The Jurgelait surname is fairly uncommon. It was primarily found in the state of Janina, a former province of the Russian Empire, which is roughly present-day Lithuania. The late 1800s saw a large exodus of Lithuanians to the United States and since then, the surname has been found in smaller pockets of ethnic Lithuanians across the diaspora.
In Lithuanian, the prefixes Jurg (or Yurg for female versions) indicate the origin of the bearer, with the suffix -ait appended to show respect to the father and family line. The 's' in the variations indicate possession of the male version – meaning the family or son of Jurg. The term -aite denotes maidenhood and is a sign of respect and of Lithuanian nobility stemming from the country’s past.
It cannot be overlooked that Jurgelait is a direct descendant of the Lithuanian language and culture, and its variants bear a long and varied history within the Lithuanian culture. The name is a reminder of the historical and cultural complexity of the Lithuanian diaspora.
Famous people with the name Jurgelait
- Sami Jurgelaitis: Lithuanian professional basketball player and a Lithuanian Basketball League All-Star.
- Olga Jurgelaitis: model from Lithuania, who is crowned as Elite Model Look International 2017.
- Justinas Jurgelaitis: actor who starred in the Lithuanian romantic comedy series, “Tadas Blinda”.
- Marius Jurgelaitis: Lithuanian long-distance runner, participate in 10 000m event in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. 5.Romanas Jurgelaitis: Lithuanian comedian, director, and actor, best known for his show on the Lithuanian TV channel LNK, “Tylos Kapa ta Rand”.
- Greta Jurgelait: Lithuanian singer and actress, known for her roles in the films “Dovanos” and “Let’s Dance”.
- Erikas Jurgelaitis: Lithuanian skier, who won gold at the World Junior Championships in 1999 and participated in the Turin Winter Olympics in 2006.
- Bronislovas Jurgelaitis: Lithuanian-American chessmaster and international master, 3-time Lithuanian Chess Champion.
- Marius Jurgelaitis: Lithuanian tennis player, listed in singles rankings as No.43 in April 2019.
- Viktoras Jurgelaitis: Lithuanian cyclist, world's best gold medalist for road track cycling in the 2012 London Olympics.